A former Lincolnshire deputy headmaster has been jailed for six years and seven months after admitting historical sex charges involving the abuse of young boys almost 50 years ago.

Roy Griffiths, a former deputy headmaster at Lincoln Cathedral School, who was in charge of boys who boarded at the school, left his post in the summer of 1970 following a complaint made about his behaviour.

Roy Griffiths

Lincoln Crown Court was told that neither the school nor the Lincoln Diocese passed the matter onto the police at the time.

An investigation only began into Griffiths' conduct after a new safeguarding officer employed by the diocese carried out a review of historic cases, which led to police setting up Operation Redstone in 2015.

Griffiths, 82, of South Street, Sherborne, Dorset, admitted six charges of indecent assault earlier this year on the day he was due to stand trial in front of a jury.

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The charges related to offences that involved six different young boys during the period between January 1963 and July 1970 when Griffiths was deputy head as well as housemaster and choirmaster at the school.

He told Griffiths: "It is clear that all six of your victims were profoundly affected by your abuse of them. You did them all real and lasting damage and you did it for no other reason than sexual gratification for yourself."